Diamonds To Fit Everyone's Budget

I hate to say it, but guys can be idiots when it comes to buying diamondengagement rings. I really hate to say this because I’m a guy and I was certainly an idiot way back when I bought my first ring. If only I knew then what I know now. Most guys approach buying a diamond like this:

They decide they want to get engaged (usually because their significant other has threatened them to get off the pot, so to speak).

They remember they saw a commercial on TV for some big box store at the mall and remember some statistic that stated they should expect to spend 2 or 3 months income on a ring (let’s call it $10,000).

They walk into the mall store and ask the clerk, “Show me what you have for $10,000.”

The commission-driven clerk falls over themselves to show them their stock.

The guy thinks, “Wow, that’s sparkly.” and lays down his $10,000 (or more if he’s lured into their readily available financing).

He’s thrilled. Now he can get engaged. But he has no idea what kind of value he’s received for his hard earned money. And, in most cases it may never matter.

In my many years as a precious metals dealer, I’ve seen many engagementrings come in to be sold to us. It truly breaks my heart to see what some of those big box stores will charge for jewelry. Suffice it to say that many of the rings we’ve seen are worth only a small fraction of their selling price. And don’t forget that, as a rule of thumb, you should never buy your jewelry where you buy your socks!

I’m not suggesting you become a diamond expert. It’s not necessary. I don’t know how a car engine works, but I still buy cars. But I know what’s appealing to me. And, I have a pretty good idea of the type of value I should receive for my money.

Times have changed. National statistics are showing $5,000 to be the average engagementring spend and around a carat to be the typical center stone. Obviously, within that framework, there’s a myriad of choices for mountings and stone shapes. But, most importantly, you’ve got to at least know the basics of diamond buying and have a good idea of what it is you want to buy. Don’t just satisfy the need… satisfy your (and her) desire.

With diamonds, you can get a big stone for comparably little money if you sacrifice color or clarity. But dress it up in the right mounting and you may not notice the difference. In my own inventory, I have a 2 carat round diamond that sells for less than a 1 carat round diamond! It depends what is important to you.

Unless you’re financially loaded, don’t get hung up on buzz words like colorless or flawless. You’ll end up paying a lot more than you need to for a difference that may not be needed or even noticeable.

You’re going to pay more (not a ton more) for a certified diamond than a non-certified one. But, if you trust the diamond person you’re working with, a non-certified stone will do just fine. The certifying of the diamond takes away the subjective nature of the diamond. If the certificate (from a reputable bureau) says it’s a VS1/J diamond, no one can say it isn’t. If you want that piece of mind it’s worth the extra.

Best practice… don’t just plunk your money down. If you’re clueless (and many of us guys are) at least find a store like Gold Trader for example, with employees (like us!) who will guide you openly and honestly through the process. If they’re just showing you items in a case and not getting to know you and what you want, you’re in the wrong store!

It’s hard to believe, we know… but the Holidays are right around the corner! That’s right, there’s only about three months left to prepare. What you might not know is that now is the best time to shop and it doesn’t matter if you don’t have your Holiday spending money put aside yet… use LAYAWAY! At Gold Trader and the Diamond Shop, there’s no charge to put items on layaway now and redeem them right before Christmas! All that’s needed is a nominal down payment and your shopping is done!

There’s a tremendous advantage to shopping now. First of all, we’ve already stocked up for the Holiday rush, so right now there’s a great selection of jewelry on hand. Gold, Diamond, Silver and Platinum jewelry; all at fantastic value prices. Second, you get to beat the crowd! Who likes to shop when it’s shoulder to shoulder in the store? And, at the big box stores, they hire a lot of temporary help who may not know the first thing about jewelry. Rather than just show you an item, Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop personnel are prepared to explain exactly what you’re looking at and give you an item by item comparison so that you find the gift that’s just right. Third, it helps you budget your gift expenses! Plan to make a payment every couple of weeks so that once the Holidays roll around you’ll have plenty of extra cash. Shop today and use layaway!

If you’re surprised that you can buy jewelry on layaway, don’t be! We decided from our first day in business to do all the right things for our customers. We invented, and remain the ONLY place to offer, the Buy Price Guarantee that, for people who sell us gold, pays them twice for the same sale. We have chosen to price our jewelry way below the mall jewelry stores. At Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop, you’ll pay less for the same OR BETTER item than you’ll pay at the Mall.

You can layaway a gold chain, a pair of earrings, a tennis bracelet, a watch…anything! Even a diamond ring! Did you know that Thanksgiving through Valentine’s Day is the most common time for people to get engaged? Our diamond prices and selection will AMAZE you! As an example, we had a customer to the mall and quote the price on a ring. When he came to us, he got the SAME ring he wanted AND had enough left over to pay for the honeymoon!! Whether you want a small diamond or a big diamond; white gold, yellow gold or platinum; halo setting or solitaire; we have just what you are looking for at prices that will keep you coming back. We prove our jewelry values every single day.

Of course, you could also choose to take advantage of our Special Financing Options that allow you to take the item today and pay over time. There are two different programs available… see the store for details.

So, allow us to summarize… for the best service, best prices and best selection, come to Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop where you can beat the Holiday rush! BUY TODAY AND USE LAYAWAY at the only store where you’ll find the Prospector; the person who knows for sure where to find the best values.

If you’re doing some de-cluttering this summer, take a look in your jewelry box and bring any used, old or broken items to Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop for extra cash or trade up for another piece of jewelry! If you haven’t worn it in awhile, it’s time

to clean up and make some extra money or get another piece of jewelry you love!

We know that selling your items is a personal and confidential matter, that’swhyeachtransactionis done in a private buying area. We will examine each of your items to determine the proper karat, weigh them and price them at the current market prices right in front of you.

Just remember, when wearing jewelry to use some caution during the summer months as everyday life can be damaging to the metal and gemstones such as:

Sun Block and Bug Spray – when applying these two must haves for the summer, lotion and spray can get stuck in between the prongs or chains, causing dirt build up and causing your items to look less than their best.

Cold Water – cold water can cause your fingers to shrink and may cause your rings to slip off without you knowing! Be careful…if you don’t leave the rings at home, don’t leave them in the ocean either!

Chlorine & Salt Water – Chlorine can be hard on silver and white gold and over time, could erode the finish and polish of gemstones. Salt water can also damage metals….not necessarily from a quick dip, but with repeated exposure.

Gardening – Dirt and small rocks can scratch your jewelry. It’s best to wear gardening gloves if you are wearing rings or bracelets.

We’d be happy toinspect your jewelry for you! Please don’t hesitate to contact us at: 413-304-2335 or just stop in Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop! We are located at 1360 Allen Street, Springfield, MA 01118. We are open Mon, Tue, Wed 9am-6pm, Thurs 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-5pm

Design, transform, repair…whatever your jewelry needs, we can help. And you can always trade in your old, unwanted or broken items for something new or for extra summer cash. Call us today to find out more information: 413-304-2335.

WE’LL HELP YOU FIND THE PERFECT PROMISE RING!

Promise rings are a promise of friendship that will grow into an engagementin the future. Sometimes, young adults are given promise rings when their relationships are ready for the next level but not quite ready for an official engagement.

Why pay the big box store prices when you get more for your money with Gold Traderand The Diamond Shop? We welcome you to stop into our store located at 1360 Allen Street, Springfield, MAto browse our selection offine jewelry and speak to our professional staff about the jewelrywe offer for every budget! We have a GIA Gemologist on site who can answer any questions you may have and we would be happy to assist you in looking at the thousands of diamonds and settings available both in our store and on our online site.

It’s that time of year where many young adults are graduating from college, spreading their wings and going off on their own. It’s an exciting, adventurous, emotional experience and you want to make it the best day ever for your loved one! If you are contemplating on what to get as a gift for your college graduate, Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop have some fantastic ideas for you!

Graduating college is no small accomplishment and should be celebrated with a gift that will last a lifetime! Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop offer a wide variety of jewelry, diamonds, precious gems and watches for the special graduate in your life! We are here to help you choose the perfect gift!

For the young lady, perhaps a diamond necklace, earrings or even a ring with lovely gemstones are great ideas to give and will be greatly appreciated. For the young man that is graduating, you could go retro with cuff links, the ever-popular gold or silver chain or even contemporary stainless steel fashion.

Collinsville Watches are a wonderful gift for a male or female. These watches are hand-assembled in Connecticut and offer a nice variety of styles to choose from.

Gold Trader and The Diamond Shop has a beautiful variety of jewelry and watches to choose from. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. We have the best prices in the area and are proud to have world class customer service. Our full-time GIA Gemologist is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have while shopping for that perfect gift!

We know you’ll be 100% satisfied with your purchase and we look forward to helping you choose the perfect gift for your loved one. Don’t pay more than you have too! You can get the same or better quality diamonds and jewelry at The Gold Trader & The Diamond Shop and SAVE MONEY! We are located at 1360 Allen Street, Springfield, MA 01118. Our hours are Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 9am-6pm, Thurs: 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-5pm.